MEN’S TENNIS TOUR NEWS FROM BEIJING AND TOKYO: NADAL GOES DOWN, DJOKOVIC AND MURRAY STILL WINNING BY RICKY DIMON

Written by: Staff on 3rd October 2014

Mutua Open Madrid Masters 1000 tennis tournament

MEN'S TENNIS TOUR NEWS FROM BEIJING AND TOKYO: NADAL GOES DOWN, DJOKOVIC AND MURRAY STILL WINNING BY RICKY DIMON

epa04196790 Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal serves to Finland's Jarkko Nieminen during their third round match for the Mutua Open Madrid Masters 1000 tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, 08 May 2014. EPA/SERGIO BARRENECHEA |

Rafael Nadal’s comeback to tennis following a three-month layoff due to wrist problems ended abruptly on Friday, with a quarterfinal loss to Martin Klizan at the China Open. Klizan pulled off a 6-7(7), 6-4 , 6-3 upset after two hours and 37 minutes. The Slovak is joined in the semis by Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, and Tomas Berdych.

Beijing summary

Last weekend, Klizan trailed Xin Gao 6-4, 5-1 in Beijing qualifying. The rest is now history. Klizan saved three match points during his comeback against Gao, qualified for the main draw, and is suddenly through to the last four after stunning Nadal. The world No. 56, who failed to serve out the first set at 5-4, eventually trailed by a break in both the second and third sets. From 3-2 down in the third, however, Klizan won 16 of the match’s last 18 points.

Rafael Nadal of Spain hits a return to Martin Klizan of Slovakia during their men’s singles quarterfinal match in the China Open tennis tournament at the National Tennis Center in Beijing, China 03 October 2014. EPA/ROLEX DELA PENA

Martin Klizan of Slovakia hits a return to Rafael Nadal of Spain during their men’s singles quarterfinal match in the China Open tennis tournament at the National Tennis Center in Beijing, China 03 October 2014. EPA/ROLEX DELA PENA

“For me this victory, [this is] the best night in my life,” Klizan assured. “I’m just very happy that I beat Rafa. He’s a legend. I’m just very happy that I beat a legend.”

Next up for the qualifier is Berdych, who maintained his dominance of Beijing doubles partner John Isner with a 6-1, 6-4 victory. Saturday’s other semifinal will pit Djokovic against Murray. Djokovic steamrolled through Grigor Dimitrov 6-2, 6-4, while Murray crushed U.S. Open champion Marin Cilic 6-1, 6-4.

Tokyo summary

Kei Nishikori of Japan returns a shot against Jeremy Chardy of France during their singles quarterfinal match at the Japan Open Tennis Championships in Tokyo, Japan, 03 October 2014. EPA/KIYOSHI OTA

The other U.S. Open finalist, runner-up Kei Nishikori, showed no signs of slowing down at the Rakuten Japan Open. Nishikori eased into the semifinals with a 6-4, 6-2 rout of Jeremy Chardy that required just one hour and 25 minutes. The Japanese star will next face Benjamin Becker, who won an all-unseeded quarterfinal against Jack Sock 4-6, 6-1, 6-4.

Milos Raonic, who lost to Nishikori in a five-setter in the U.S. Open fourth round, ensured that a rematch is possible in the Tokyo final as he took care of Denis Istomin 7-6(8), 6-3. The Canadian fired 15 aces and did not face a single break point despite double-faulting six times. Meanwhile, Gilles Simon dropped Americans to an 0-2 record on the day by taking out Steve Johnson 7-6(4), 6-1.

Briefs

* Klizan approaching top 40 with upset of Nadal, needs one more win to do it.

* Djokovic prevents Dimitrov from climbing higher than ninth.

* Murray leaves Cilic at No. 8, but must win title to reach top 10 himself.

* Race for No. 6 down to Berdych and Nishikori, who reach respective semifinals.

* Becker soars into top 50, will be top 40 if he moves into Tokyo final.

* Simon surges back to top 30, will reach top 25 if he upsets Raonic.

Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and also maintains his own tennis website, The Grandstand.

Topics: Andy Murray, Beijing, China Open, GRIGOR DIMITROV, Japan Open, John Isner, Marin Cilic, Martin Klizan, milos raonic, Novak Djokovic, Rafa, Ricky Dimon, Tennis, Tokyo, Tomas Berdych

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10sBalls_com says:

October 3, 2014 at 5:47 pm

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